Fast Facts 

All foreign nationals require visa to enter India. The visas can be acquired from the Indian Embassies/Missions situated outside India.

The official language is Hindi in the Devanagri script. The States are free to decide their own regional languages for internal administration and education, so there are 14 official languages widely spoken throughout the country. English is also widely spoken in India.

Voltage in most places is 220 volts AC, 50 cycles, although some areas also have DC supplies. Visitors are advised to check the voltage before using any electrical appliances. Socket sizes vary, so it is advisable to take a set of plug adapters, available from most electrical stores near your home.

There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency or travelers cheques a tourist may import, provided a Declaration Form is completed on arrival. This will facilitate the exchange of imported currency as well as the export of unspent currency at the time of departure. Cash, Bank Notes and Travelers Cheques up to US$ 10,000 or equivalent need not be declared at the time of entry. Any money in the form of Travelers Cheques, Drafts, Bills, Cheques etc. which tourists wish to convert into Indian currency should be exchanged only through authorized money changers and a receipt of changed money be taken. Tourists are warned that changing money through unauthorized persons is not only illegal but also involves the risk of receiving counterfeit currency. To exchange foreign money other than through banks or authorized money changer is an offense. Please note that no Indian Currency whatsoever can be imported or exported, except for Rupee Travelers Cheques. Banks abroad do keep rupee balances with their agents in India and are able to draw upon these balances to issue Rupee Travelers Cheques to intending tourists.

India is a vast country having different customs which are followed in different parts of the country.You may find the metros more liberal and cosmopolitian as would be the case anywhere in the world and you may come across various unusual customs as you move into the hinterland, which are preserved over thousands of years. You may also find that in general,the attitude to life is vastly different compared to your part of the world.

For purposes of customs, a ‘Tourist’ is defined as a person not normally resident in India, who enters India for a period upto 6 months in the course of any 12 months period, for legitimate non immigration purposes. Passengers who are covered by this definition, except passengers of Nepali origin arriving from Nepal, will be entitled to concessions under the tourist baggage rules 1978, whether they of happen to possess Tourist, Transit or Entry visa or not.

Passengers embarking on journeys to any place outside India from a customs airport / seaport will have to pay a foreign travel tax (FTT) of Rs. 150 on journeys to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives and Rs. 500 to all other countries. Transit passengers traveling by air who have to leave the airport on account of mechanical trouble but continue their journey by the same aircraft and the same flight number by which they arrive are also exempt from FTT.Also PSF@Rs.200 for all tickets issued in Indian Rupees and US Dollar 5 is charged for each point of embarkastion in India w.e.f. 1 April 2001.

Among tourism's recent gains in India has been the launch of the unique heritage hotels scheme. The country's rich and distinguished cultural past has bequeathed it a number of feudal estates, that are in the nature of small forts or palaces, havelis, the mansions of erstwhile aristocratic families.

In a heritage hotel, a visitor can expect to be extended a gracious welcome, offered rooms that have their own history, be offered traditional cuisine toned down to the requirements of internationals palates, be entertained by folk artistes, participate in activities that allows a glimpse into the heritage of the region, and bask in an atmosphere that lives and breathes of the past.

Hot tropical weather with variations from region to region. Coolest weather lasts from November to mid March, with cool, fresh mornings and evenings and dry, sunny days, really hot weather, when it is dry, dusty and unpleasant, is between April and June. Monsoon rains occur in most regions in summer between June and September.

Certain areas of Sikkim like Gangtok, Rumtek and Phodang and Zongri in West Sikkim and Pamayangtse have been excluded from the inner line and declared as Restricted Areas. Individual tourists are permitted to visit Gangtok, Rumtek and Phodang. Group tourists are permitted to visit Zongri and Pamayangtse. The duration of stay has been raised from 7 to 15 days. Permits can be issued by all Indian missions abroad, all FRRO-Immigration officers at Airports at Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai and New Delhi Chief Secretary, Govt. of Sikkim, Secretary, Hotel Department Govt. of Sikkim, L.G. Police, Govt. of Sikkim, Siliguri, Dy. Director Tourism, Government of Sikkim, New Delhi, Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Sikkim, New Delhi Calcutta, Dy Commissioner of Darjeeling and Dy Secretary, Home department, Govt. Of West Bengal.

Manipur has also been opened to foreign tourists, permits can be issued by all missions abroad, all FRRO, Home Commissioner, Manipur, Imphal. The duration of stay has been raised from 3 to 5 days.

Individual foreign tourists can visit Port Blair municipal area, Havelock Island, Long Island, Neil Island, Mayabunder, Diglipur, Rangat, where a night halt is allowed and Jolly Buoy, South Cinque, Red Skin, Mount Harriet, Madhurban where only day visits are allowed. Prior permit is necessary. Individual tourists are permitted 30 days allowed.

Of this only Bangaram, Agatti and Suheli Islands are open to foreign tourists. Permits are required, obtainable from the Lakshadeep Administration, Wellington Island, Harbour Road, Cochin-3. However foreign tourists traveling in organised groups may obtain permits in advance from the administrator at Cochin through a recognized Travel Agent / Tour Operator.